I have been absolutely LOVING having a running VFR, and have so far also given rides to 2 of my boys (youngest boy also wants a ride, but we haven’t yet found suitable gear.) No rides for the daughters (yet.)
Yesterday at the bank, I tried to restart the bike (’98 with 74,000 miles) and hitting the start button made a little click sound (seemed like it was in the instrument panel area, or down around the ignition key area) but the engine didn’t turn over. I clicked it several times, it was obvious the starter wasn’t doing anything, I was just getting a click from up in front of the fuel tank somewhere. After a few more tries, it started right up, and restarting again later I had no problem.
Any ideas what this might be? Or what I can do to diagnose this (when it doesn’t happen all the time)? Is there a relay that might need replacing after 15 years and 74 thousand miles?
Check the connections at the starter relay as well as at the starter. Make sure your battery connections are good and tight, and that the battery is of sufficient charge. If it still persists, go through the electrosport trouble shooting guide.
Do you have a voltmeter on the bike? I just added one to mine (fleabay special from China, it was somewhere around $7 shipped and is waterproof) It is handy to have to check every now and then to make sure your voltages are consistent.
Typically when that happens to me it means the battery doesn't have enough charge. You may need a new battery or you could have some kind of other charging/electircal failure. Get the battery charged and tested. If it's good, start looking for other things.
I have an eBay Chinese voltmeter, but not installed yet. Figure I'll do it when my LED bulbs come in for my instrument panel (ordered a couple days ago - at night I only have half a speedometer lit, no other instruments.)
The battery is new this season (according to the seller) but I haven't looked at the battery yet to see brand.
Also, I have a Rick's r/r, so hopefully that isn't a problem (but I know there are also connectors and the stator to worry about.)
I guess it was time to become familiar with my electrical system anyway.
Sheesh! Forget installing an onboard voltmeter until you get this issue resolved. All this conjecture...put a voltmeter across the battery posts after it's been sitting for a few hours...what does it read? Less than 12.5V I bet. I'd be willing to bet the battery is toast and if it's truly only a year old, either it was abused somehow, or you have a charging issue. What does the voltmeter read at 5k RPM? Less than 14.3V? Charging issue...
If all your voltage readings are good, then start looking for more exotic problems than a battery that needs replaced.
Sheesh! Forget installing an onboard voltmeter until you get this issue resolved. All this conjecture...put a voltmeter across the battery posts after it's been sitting for a few hours...what does it read? Less than 12.5V I bet. I'd be willing to bet the battery is toast and if it's truly only a year old, either it was abused somehow, or you have a charging issue. What does the voltmeter read at 5k RPM? Less than 14.3V? Charging issue...
If all your voltage readings are good, then start looking for more exotic problems than a battery that needs replaced.
If the battery is toast it wouldn't start after several tries, sorry but that doesn't make sense.
As you need jumpercables to get it started in such a case.
Sheesh! Forget installing an onboard voltmeter until you get this issue resolved. All this conjecture...put a voltmeter across the battery posts after it's been sitting for a few hours...what does it read? Less than 12.5V I bet. I'd be willing to bet the battery is toast and if it's truly only a year old, either it was abused somehow, or you have a charging issue. What does the voltmeter read at 5k RPM? Less than 14.3V? Charging issue...
If all your voltage readings are good, then start looking for more exotic problems than a battery that needs replaced.
If the battery is toast it wouldn't start after several tries, sorry but that doesn't make sense.
As you need jumpercables to get it started in such a case.
Well, I re-read the OP and you are probably right...I missed the part where it started after multiple tries...I thought it started after sitting. Still, he needs to check the battery voltage and charging voltage...